A former member of the National Assembly who represented Oyo Central Senatorial District and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayoade Adeseun, has called on the Federal Government to urgently establish a military base in Ogbomoso, citing escalating insecurity and the strategic importance of the area.
Adeseun made the appeal on Sunday during an interview with The PUNCH at Onipanu in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the absence of a military formation in Ogbomoso as a long-standing security lapse.
According to him, the lack of a combat-ready military presence has left the town and surrounding communities vulnerable, particularly in light of recent violent incidents.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits had, on January 6, 2026, invaded the Old Oyo National Park in Oloka, Oriire Local Government Area, killing five National Park Service officers during a late-night attack.
Recalling the town’s strong military heritage, Adeseun noted that Ogbomoso has produced several distinguished officers in the Armed Forces.
“We remember Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle of blessed memory, Colonel Adeniyan, and Ibrahim Taiwo. Even today, many of our sons are serving at different levels in the Armed Forces,” he said.
He expressed concern that despite this legacy, Ogbomoso still lacks a military establishment capable of responding swiftly to security threats.
“For us not to have a military formation, even if it is not a full battalion, is worrisome,” he added.
Adeseun warned that dependence on troops deployed from Ibadan or Saki in Oke-Ogun could result in fatal delays during emergencies, noting that Saki is about a three-hour drive from Ogbomoso.
“If anything happens along this axis, before help arrives from Ibadan or Saki, all hell would have broken loose,” he said.
He, therefore, advocated the immediate establishment of at least a military outpost with combat capacity, stressing that an educational military command in Ilorin, Kwara State, cannot fill the security gap.
“They are educational, not combatant. What we need here is a combat formation,” he stated.
Raising further concerns, Adeseun pointed to Ogbomoso’s proximity to international borders and the risks posed by irregular migration and cross-border criminal activities.
“We are close to the border. People move across freely, and there is no knowing where they may surface next,” he warned.
He also referenced the recent killings in Ikoyi-Ile, Oloka village, saying the attack highlighted the dangers of reactive rather than proactive security measures.
“They killed many people, and troops were sent only after the damage had been done,” he said.
Adeseun concluded by urging the Federal Government to urgently deploy a military unit to Ogbomoso, adding that suitable land is readily available to host a military facility.
